 Gleason in January 2020 | |||||||||
| No. 37 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | March 19, 1977 Spokane, Washington, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Washington) | ||||||||
| College: | Washington State (1995–1999) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2000 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Stephen Michael Gleason (born March 19, 1977) is an American former professional football player who played as a safety with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars. Originally signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000, he played for the Saints through the 2006 season. As a free agent in 2008, Gleason retired from the NFL after eight seasons.
Gleason is particularly known for his block of a punt early in a 2006 game, which became a symbol of recovery in New Orleans in the team's first home game after Hurricane Katrina.
In 2011, Gleason revealed that he was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease).[1][2] His experiences while living with the disease were captured on video over the course of a five-year period and featured in the 2016 documentary Gleason.
He was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in 2019[3] and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2024 for his contributions to ALS awareness.[4][5]
- ^ "Steve Gleason diagnosed with ALS". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
- ^ NOLA.com – New Orleans Saints cult hero Steve Gleason battling ALS – September 25, 2011
- ^ "Steve Gleason receives Congressional Gold Medal". Washington State Magazine. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "Retired Saints safety Steve Gleason receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award at The ESPYS for his work on ALS awareness". NFL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ "Gleason to be honored at ESPYS for ALS advocacy". ESPN.com. June 27, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.